Chapter 95

Chapter 95
## Chapter 95

The Abyss Opens (2)

The entity emerging from the subterranean rupture radiated a dark magic power that resembled swirling obsidian flames, casting a crushing dread over the surroundings that made breathing difficult just by observing it.

[Ah! Splendid! Absolutely magnificent! Hahaha—!]

Hans erupted into booming laughter, utterly captivated by its magnificent, terrifying scale.

A skeletal dragon shrouded in midnight fire was the ultimate aspiration for any practitioner of necromancy.

[Grooo—?]

Seemingly responding to the sound of his voice, the Bone Dragon, which had been contorting its massive frame to wrench itself free from the chasm, shifted its skull toward Hans.

Their glowing gazes locked.

Meeting its eyes directly, Hans gently intoned its name, infusing his speech with potent dark magic power.

[Entracio—]

Wooong—

His summons resonated as if echoing from the depths of the underworld, carrying his absolute will across the distance…

And the peculiar vibration of that frequency dissolved into the structure of the Bone Dragon Entracio.

The bond, originating from the Immortal King’s Heart, began to forge a link with the creature in accordance with the ancient covenant inherited from previous generations.

Thus, the pact established by his precursors was freshly rewritten upon this vessel.

[Kraaagh—!]

The Bone Dragon unleashed a deafening roar that vibrated through the air, its violet eyes flaring with light.

It was a declaration of pure exultation, greeting its new master after finally awakening from an incredibly prolonged slumber.

‘It feels like acquiring an incredibly obedient companion. Looking closely, it actually possesses a certain charm, doesn’t it?’

Sleek, polished skeletal structures, joint configurations allowing for seamless mobility, and striking violet eyes.

Perhaps due to Hans’s highly unconventional sense of beauty, the gargantuan, terrifying skeleton began to appear almost endearing to him.

As he observed it with immense satisfaction, waiting for its massive form to clear the fissure entirely,

‘What is this sensation?’

An entirely different signature caught his attention.

[Grrrr—!]

Moments later, Entracio appeared to register the exact same presence, letting out a low growl while fixing its gaze on a specific point in the distance.

It was a frequency that felt highly abrasive yet thoroughly recognizable to Hans.

[The Main God Church?]

A sharp holy power pricked at his senses, even though the source was still a considerable distance away.

The finest forces of the Church, comprising numerous Paladins and even high-ranking Archbishops, had journeyed directly to this isolated, desolate region.

‘Well, it makes perfect sense.’

An occult operation of this magnitude could never escape their vigilance, making it inevitable that they would mobilize to investigate the disturbance.

‘How should I handle this… ’

Engaging them directly at this precise moment wasn’t ideal.

An outright conflict with the Church required a far more theatrical setting, and he still needed to tweak his grand design to account for several recent complications.

‘However, if I handle this correctly, I can turn this encounter to my advantage.’

The current stage was practically flawless.

An unprecedented crisis had been detected, and the gates of the abyss had unlocked for the first time in a millennium.

The champions of the Main God Church, rushing to the epicenter of the summoning out of a sacred vow to defend the realm…

Only to find the malevolent Immortal King waiting for them, poised to plunge the entire realm into eternal darkness!

A monumental collision between illumination and shadow, righteousness and corruption.

The fate of the land teetering on a razor’s edge, with the creeping terror of extinction closing in!

What hope would remain for civilization in the shadow of such catastrophic peril?

‘Hmm… This would make an exceptional promotional sequence. The atmosphere is ideal, and the narrative direction is flawless.’

Hans shifted his gaze back to the Bone Dragon, which had now decoupled itself entirely from the underworld rift.

The aperture of the chasm was shrinking at an accelerated rate, likely triggered by the creature’s departure.

‘Are there no other entities capable of crossing over? The strain on the portal must have been severe.’

In truth, the primary factor was undoubtedly the volatile ‘madness’ that the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance had extracted from the deep.

With the vast majority of that energy shattered and unable to manifest properly, the toll on the dimensional gateway must have been immense.

It was highly fortunate that the Bone Dragon had managed to break through under such restrictive conditions.

[Entracio.]

[Grrr—?]

The Bone Dragon, which had been emitting hostile rumbles toward the approaching holy energy, tilted its skull inquisitively at the sound of its master’s voice.

Hans glided effortlessly through the air, landing softly upon the crown of its massive skeletal head.

He leaned down slightly, gently running his hand along the dragon’s massive horn.

[You have endured a long, suffocating confinement; you did well. Go forth and soar. Reveal your true majesty to them.]

Entracio’s gaze blazed with intensity at Hans’s command.

Recalling the endless eons spent drifting through the blank void of non-existence, entirely devoid of thought, a sudden, primal instinct erupted within it.

[Kraaaagh—!]

Flap—! Flap—!

A fierce hurricane whipped through the terrain as the creature unfurled its wings, releasing a cry saturated with dark magic power.

Though its wings were tattered and decayed by undeath, each downforce caused the surrounding dark magic power to manifest autonomously, weaving the complex somatic components of ‘flight’.

Then, with a sudden surge,

Boom—!

The Bone Dragon’s colossal form shattered the boundaries of the cavernous opening overhead and ascended into the twilight sky where the first rays of dawn were breaking.

A celestial backdrop where day and night intersected, a tempest violently churning the air currents, and the sweeping expanse of the barren earth rolling out far beneath them.

‘…The view from here is truly remarkable.’

While traveling through the air was a simple task for him, looking down upon civilization while balanced atop the skull of a massive undead apex predator offered a completely different perspective.

[Kraaaagh—!]

It was an undeniable realization that he looked the part of the ultimate adversary.

And as that terrifying sovereign made his descent…

The contingent from the Main God Church gathered on the ground below, staring up at the spectacle with rigid, anxious expressions.

The holy servants had managed to reach the coordinates of the ritual within mere hours, traversing the rugged wilderness by utilizing the enhancement of ‘Haste’.

—

The initial warning they received…

[Kraaaagh—!]

Was an earth-shattering shriek saturated with overwhelming dark magic power.

“What could possibly make such a sound…?”

“It indicates the adversaries are still on-site. Prepare for an immediate engagement.”

Though thoroughly spent from their relentless, rapid deployment, they represented the pinnacle of the Church’s military might.

Aside from those completely drained by the sustained maintenance of the acceleration spell, the rest of the ranks immediately funneled their holy power to restore themselves to peak combat readiness.

As they moved forward cautiously toward the epicenter of the ritual…

Boom—!

The crest of a nearby elevation fractured violently, and a mass of absolute darkness shot up toward the heavens.

It climbed into the upper atmosphere with a velocity that defied its immense proportions…

[Kraaaagh—!]

And bellowed once more, discharging waves of dark magic power that resembled black infernos from every segment of its frame.

“…A Bone Dragon.”

“A mythological terror I have only ever encountered in ancient texts…”

The holy forces grimaced at its terrifying grandeur, yet they quickly realized their true threat lay elsewhere.

A figure stood squarely upon the massive skeletal brow of the dragon, gazing down at their ranks with calm indifference.

The scourge of civilization, the ultimate manifestation of demise, the resurrected nightmare—.

“The Immortal King, Hans…!”

He looked down upon the gathering below with a supreme, haughty detachment.

[Hehehe— If it isn’t the faithful hounds of the holy order. Whatever has driven you to travel this far into the wastes?]

His words carried perfectly through the distance, cutting clearly through the wind despite his altitude.

It was an utterance designed to evoke fundamental terror within the soul, but the individuals gathered here possessed far too much fortitude to break under mere words.

“You ask a question to which you already possess the answer.”

“Hans, the degenerate necromancer who defies the sacred order of existence! Your reign ends here!”

The clerical ranks systematically withdrew behind the shield wall of the Paladins and holy knights, who bared their steel and advanced, projecting their holy power while reciting protective liturgies.

As the frontline coordinated their defensive positions, Archbishop Latiaus utilized an opening to clandestinely relay their current predicament to the Roselia Cathedral via a specialized holy transmission.

With their survival heavily compromised by this sudden encounter with the dark lord, he sought to preserve this intelligence to guide the Church in the event of their demise.

Concluding the transmission, Archbishop Latiaus projected his voice toward Hans, reinforcing his words with dense holy power.

“Immortal King! Our forces mobilized the moment we detected the breach of the abyss at these coordinates.”

[Oh— And what of it?]

“And a multitude of abhorrent sacrifices have been enacted across the realms to facilitate this atrocity. Innumerable innocent souls were snuffed out to fuel this single heresy. The catastrophic repercussions that will plague the lands due to this abyssal taint are beyond comprehension.”

The senior cleric spoke past clenched teeth, his tone vibrating with tightly reined fury as his illuminated gaze locked onto Hans.

“Tell me, is this entire calamity your handiwork?”

The Archbishop delivered his final accusation with absolute certainty, his expression unyielding.

It was primarily a rhetorical declaration intended to solidify the resolve of his subordinates; he harbored no genuine expectation of a denial.

After all, was it not the fundamental objective of the dark lord to drown the world in the silence of the grave?

Yet Hans chose to respond to the inquiry with complete candor.

[Hehehe— Such a query is entirely redundant! Who else within the boundaries of this realm possesses the capability to orchestrate an event of this magnitude if not myself? Hahaha!]

It was an admission that appeared to claim full responsibility on the surface, though his phrasing held a double meaning.

‘There is truly no need to ask.’ served as a redirection, and ‘Who else could manage it?’ was born of genuine curiosity.

‘In truth, I am quite eager to discover the answer myself.’

He possessed no actionable intelligence beyond the fact that the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance was pulling the strings, leaving him genuinely curious about the identity of the true architect.

‘Analyzing the complex arrays etched into the ritual grounds moments ago, the individual responsible is undeniably an exceptional prodigy.’

The lingering remnants of the spellwork indicated an intellect that had attained a masterful comprehension through extensive, dedicated experimentation and profound insights.

He would make it a priority to uncover this individual’s identity while dismantling the network of the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance.

An individual of such profound capability would make an exemplary candidate to fill a vacancy among his Four Heavenly Kings!

As Hans remained lost in his calculations, the hostility of the holy forces intensified dramatically.

“As we suspected, that monster…!”

“Maintain your composure. This aligns precisely with our tactical assessments.”

The heavy infantry and elite vanguards raised their armaments, projecting a palpable desire to slay their foe, while the supporting clerics maintained a steady rhythm of incantations to bolster their holy barriers.

They finalized their battle formations with the absolute certainty that they might not survive the day.

They were fully aware that the odds of overcoming the dark lord under these conditions were virtually nonexistent, yet retreat was never an option.

Flight was impossible across these exposed plains, and their honor would never permit it regardless.

Their devotion remained absolute, even in the shadow of impending doom.

As the tension reached its absolute zenith,

[Ah— Everyone, lower your weapons. I harbor no desire to engage in a skirmish at this juncture. I merely journeyed here to signal my resurgence and leave you with a brief notice.]

“What…? What manner of deception is this?!”

Hans, maintaining his position atop Entracio’s skull, addressed their volatile outburst with a relaxed, casual demeanor.

[Tell me, how fares the champion who managed to pierce my chest… Heinrich Landguard? Is he still in good health?]

“Sir Landguard?”

He deliberately steered the conversation toward a different subject, recognizing that a chaotic battle at this moment would disrupt his broader objectives.

He shifted the focus toward Heinrich, the designated nemesis of the dark lord.

‘I must subtly reinforce his reputation among them, ensuring his standing remains prominent.’

It was a highly effective tactical move, considering the audience consisted entirely of influential leaders within the religious hierarchy.

[My grand designs suffered a temporary setback due to his interference, forcing me to navigate considerable inconveniences. I had formulated a specialized token of appreciation to commemorate his effort, though it is rather disappointing he could not attend today.]

He smoothly magnified the significance of Heinrich’s deeds, openly projecting an intense, specialized fixation on the knight.

All while utilizing a stage constructed entirely by an anonymous third party.

‘However, it is time to bring this sequence to a close. What parting gesture would ensure an indelible impression… Ah! Perfect.’

To sustain the terrifying aura of the dark lord, he required a powerful, dramatic exit to leave a lasting impact on their minds.

[I anticipated gazing upon his countenance once more, but circumstances dictate otherwise. Convey to Heinrich Landguard that fortune will not favor him a second time when our paths inevitably cross again.]

Finishing his declaration, Hans signaled the Bone Dragon, Entracio, to begin a measured ascent into the upper atmosphere.

“Hold your ground, Immortal King…!”

[Hehehe… The established structures of this world shall crumble into ash, giving rise to an entirely unprecedented era. Bear that truth in mind, servants of the faith.]

A dense, miasmic cloud of dark energy erupted from his position, blanketing the firmament and completely blotting out the early morning light.

[I, Hannibal Strauss, represent— the definitive conclusion of this age!]

Just as he was preparing to conclude this impromptu encounter by imprinting his grand title upon their memories,

[Departing without a final gesture feels somewhat discourteous, so allow me to leave you with a parting token.]

A massive concentration of dark magic power surged from the corrupted core of the ascending Bone Dragon, instantly channeling directly into its skeletal jaws.

Whoosh—

It was the manifestation of Death Breath, the most devastating destructive capability available to the undead dragon.

“An impending Breath attack! Evasion is impossible! Establish all defensive barriers immediately!”

“…According to the prophecies of Saint Hyeon, no malevolence shall breach this perimeter…”

The negative energy coalesced within its maw, spiraling and compressing continuously as it drew from an seemingly inexhaustible reservoir of magic…

Until it finally crystallized into pure, unadulterated annihilation.

[Kuo—!]

Whoosh—!

A catastrophic torrent of absolute mortality discharged from the maw of the Bone Dragon, raking across the vast expanse below.

The sudden, immense kinetic force triggered a localized tremor, tearing the topography apart and sending debris raining in every direction as the upper crust of the earth was thoroughly upended.

The dark, turbulent pressure wave—partaking of the properties of ash, liquid corruption, and choking smoke—transformed the already barren terrain into a completely sterile dead zone where no living matter could persist.

While it appeared to be a vastly disproportionate parting assault, for Hans, it was merely the equivalent of a casual gesture of farewell.

‘They comprise an elite gathering of highly capable combatants; an introductory strike of this caliber won’t be enough to claim their lives.’

It was simply a theatrical display designed to ensure they never forgot this day.

‘Hehehe… There is truly nothing quite as spectacular as a Bone Dragon.’

Even if the choice was heavily influenced by his own idiosyncratic preferences.